Cocoa Farmers Target Overseas Market
There is still a growing interest in cocoa growers in Fiji as they are keen to meet the overseas market.
While there are still some challenges in having a steady local market, local chocolate manufacturers continue to buy from local cocoa growers.
Important role
Fiji Cocoa Farmers Association president Osea Vutikalulu said cocoa farmers play an important role in Fiji’s local chocolate making industry.
“We have a few members in the association who have a steady supply chain with local chocolate manufacturers, and they have been very helpful in supporting the farmers.
“However, we plan to expand our market reach to the United States of America as we have already sent samples of our locally grown cocoa beans.
“We recently received the results from this buyer in New York and they informed us that Fiji’s local cocoa beans were of very high quality.
“This makes use proud because as cocoa growers, we have been using all-natural based methods to
ensure that the cocoa beans are of good quality and would boost the local chocolate industry,” said Mr Vutiikalulu.
Mr Vutikalulu said the association plans to increase its cocoa production to meet the overseas market as the returns were much higher than the local market.
Overseas market
He said cocoa farming were not as lucrative as dalo and yaqona as these were the most produced crops that have export potential.
“In the overseas market, cocoa products are widely known so the market is quite big that is why we
are targeting that market.
“We see that they not only use cocoa for chocolates but for other use which is why we as local growers need to improve our production so that we need export to this market,” said Mr Vutikalulu.
Mr Vutikalulu said local cocoa growers are mainly from Vanua Levu, Tailevu Naitasiri, Rewa, including Cakaudrove and Bua.
Cocoa production exists in three areas of Fiji, whereas most of the production comes fróm the North followed by the Western and the Central Division.